A fine example of judicial conduct

CORPUS CHRISTI - Municipal Judge Missy Medary's reaction to the news that she had been appointed to the 347th District Court set an example for judiciousness and class. Her immediate response was to speak highly of the person whose place she will take, Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, and to ask that Ramos swear her in.

Ramos, who is vacating the position to become a federal judge, is the Democrat who defeated Medary, a Republican, in the 2000 election for the 347th. "Judge Ramos is an excellent jurist," Medary told the Caller-Times. "I'm humbled to be appointed to take her place."

That expression of collegiality is refreshingly contrary to the uncivil partisan politics of these days.

Being Republican was a liability in a judicial race in Nueces County in 2000. It was pretty much a prerequisite for receiving Gov. Rick Perry's appointment to Ramos' unexpired term — just as being a Democrat didn't hurt Ramos' chances of receiving President Barack Obama's appointment to the U.S. District Court.

The judiciary ought to be above party politics but too often isn't. Ramos and Medary are welcome exceptions, based on Ramos' conduct on the bench and the signals Medary has sent.

The humility expressed by Medary also should be taken as a positive sign. The regular swinging of a gavel is a temptation toward arrogance. She has been swinging one in municipal court for several years, plenty of time to have given in to that temptation, and evidently hasn't.